Calcaneal fractures in a trauma center: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objectives: Although calcaneal fractures are relatively uncommon, they are among injuries that may lead to short-and long-term morbidity regardless of the treatment. The Saudi Arabian literature showed a shortage of studies that analyzed the epidemiology of this fracture. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology and characteristics of patients with calcaneus fractures. Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with calcaneal fractures admitted to King Fahd Hospital in Almadinah Almunawwarah City, Saudi Arabia, over a 4-year-period (January 2016-December 2019). Data such as age, gender, trauma mechanism, laterality of fracture, and associated injuries, were extracted from patients' medical files and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The study analyzed data of 130 patients with calcaneal fractures (156 calcaneal fractures). Male patients (86.2%) were more commonly affected than females, at a ratio of 6.2:1. Ninety-three (71.5%) of the cases resulted from low-energy falls and road traffic accidents (RTA). Low-energy falls and falling from a height as injury mechanisms were higher in female patients, while RTA was more frequent in males. Bilateral fractures were found in 20% of cases, with a significantly higher rate in male patients. The associated skeletal injuries were more frequent in females than male patients (66.7% vs. 43.8%), while associated nonskeletal injuries were only found in 15 male patients, particularly those aged <40 years. Conclusion: Calcaneal fractures have a high rate of associated skeletal and nonskeletal injuries indicating the seriousness of these fractures. More research using data from multi-centers is warranted.